How much does a $200,000 mortgage cost?

The monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage will depend on your mortgage rate and loan term. Lower rates and longer terms mean lower payments. (Shutterstock)

Home prices have skyrocketed over the past year, with the median price for an existing home now exceeding $360,000, according to data from the National Association of REALTORS®. But home prices can vary widely, and you can find a house for significantly cheaper in many areas. 

If you’re looking for a $200,000 mortgage, the price you can afford depends on factors like your credit, the type of loan, and the interest rate. Let’s go over what the monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage could be, and what to know before closing on the loan.

Don’t make the mistake of only getting one quote for a mortgage rate. Credible makes it easy to compare mortgage and mortgage refinance rates from multiple lenders.

• What’s the monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage?
• How much interest will you pay on a $200,000 mortgage?
• How to get a $200,000 mortgage
• Where to get a $200,000 mortgage

What’s the monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage?

Your monthly mortgage payment depends on a number of factors, including the home price, the size of your down payment, your loan term, your interest rate, and additional charges like private mortgage insurance (PMI) and taxes.

To keep things simple, let’s stick to the main part of a mortgage payment — the principal and interest. The mortgage interest rate and term determine your monthly payment. 

Say you have a $200,000 mortgage with a 30-year term. If your interest rate is 3.5%, your principal and interest mortgage payment would be $898. With a 5% interest rate, your payment would be $1,074. Expect your actual payment to be higher once the additional charges are factored in.

With a 15-year mortgage, your monthly payment on a $200,000 mortgage at 3.5% jumps to $1,430. At 5% interest, your payment would be $1,582.

You can calculate mortgage payments yourself using an online calculator, like Credible’s mortgage payment calculator.

What are the parts of a mortgage payment?

The main part of a mortgage payment is the principal and interest. The principal goes toward paying down the loan balance. With a $200,000 mortgage, the $200,000 is your principal — though you’ll ultimately pay much more than that due to interest. 

Interest is what the lender charges in exchange for allowing you to borrow money. The higher the interest rate, the higher your monthly payment and the more you pay in total over the life of your loan.

Most mortgages also include something called an escrow payment. This is in addition to your principal and interest, and is used to pay for things like property taxes and homeowners insurance. Your lender holds your escrow payments in a special account and uses the money to pay the insurance premiums and tax bills on your behalf. This ensures that these bills are paid on time, protecting both the lender’s investment and yours. Depending on the type of loan you take out and your down payment, your escrow payment may also include PMI.

What is PMI?

Private mortgage insurance is a type of insurance that protects your lender in the event that you fail to make your monthly payments. This gives lenders more security when offering mortgages with low down payments. Lenders typically require PMI on conventional loans when you make less than a 20% down payment, and you’ll pay for it through your monthly escrow payment.

How much interest will you pay on a $200,000 mortgage?

A longer mortgage term and higher interest rate results in more interest over the life of the loan. Conversely, the shorter your mortgage term and lower your rate, the less you’ll pay in interest. 

For a 30-year, $200,000 mortgage at 3.5%, you’ll pay about $123,000 in interest over the loan term. If the interest rate rises to 5%, your total interest would reach more than $186,000 over those three decades.

Shorter loan terms require you to pay much less in interest, though your monthly payments are higher. Say you have a 15-year, $200,000 mortgage at 3.5% (the same rate as above). You’d pay just $57,358 in total interest. At a 5% interest rate, you’d pay $84,686 in interest over the life of the loan. You’ll also pay off your mortgage much earlier than you would with a 30-year loan.

At the beginning of your loan term, the majority of your monthly payment goes toward paying this interest. Only a small amount goes toward principal. As time passes, the ratio flips. By the time you’re close to paying off your loan, most of your payment goes toward principal, with a small amount allocated to interest.

HOW TO REFINANCE YOUR MORTGAGE AND SAVE BIG

How to get a $200,000 mortgage

Here are the steps you should follow to take out a $200,000 mortgage:

Step 1: Determine your budget

You’ll need to consider more than the sale price and your total mortgage amount when determining the affordability of a home. You should also take into account your monthly mortgage payment. Review your monthly budget and see what size mortgage payment fits comfortably with your finances. This will help you determine the right loan term and interest rate for you. You’ll also find out whether a $200,000 loan is in your price range at all.

Take into consideration the down payment as well. The down payment is money you pay at closing, usually a certain percentage of the home price. The difference between your down payment and the sale price is what your mortgage covers. 

Different loan types have different down payment requirements. A conventional loan, for instance, can require as little as 3% down in many cases. An FHA loan can have a down payment as low as 3.5%, if you have a credit score of 580 or higher. If you have a score between 500 and 579, you’ll need to make a 10% down payment for an FHA loan.

Step 2: Check your credit

Your credit score plays a major role in determining the mortgage rate you receive and whether or not you’ll qualify for the loan. 

Many loan programs have minimum credit score requirements. For example, a conventional loan often requires a 620 credit score, while an FHA loan can be available to people with scores as low as 500. Higher credit scores generally yield lower interest rates. Know your credit score so that you can become familiar with the options available to you. 

To find out your score, request your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Under federal law, you can get a free copy of your report each year from each bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com. 

When you receive your credit reports, go over them with a close eye. There may be errors, such as incorrect balances or accounts listed as past due that are actually current. You can dispute any incorrect information with the credit bureau and have it corrected, potentially boosting your score.

Step 3: Prequalify for a mortgage

Once you’re in a good position to buy a home, you can approach a few different lenders to prequalify for a mortgage. This process involves giving the lender a little bit of your personal information to run a credit check. The lender will then let you know the size of the loan you may qualify for and at what interest rate. Prequalification typically only takes a few minutes.

A prequalification letter isn’t a firm commitment to lend, but it gives you a good idea of the mortgage you’ll ultimately be able to receive. 

Credible allows you to compare actual prequalified rates from multiple lenders at once.

Step 4: Hunt for a home

With your price range now set, you can search for a home. A Realtor may be able to help you find houses that fit your budget with all the features you need. Your agent can also help you navigate the process of putting in an offer. 

Step 5: Fill out a full loan application

After the seller accepts your offer, pick the lender you prequalified with that’ll give you the best terms on a mortgage. Take a look at the interest rate, down payment requirement, and other closing costs. Once you’ve determined the best fit, your loan officer will give you instructions on how to proceed to the full loan application. 

You’ll likely need to provide documentation of your income and assets. This could include:

• W-2s
• Tax returns
• Pay stubs
• Bank statements
• Investment account statements

Your lender will also order a home appraisal to make sure it's worth the price. During this time, you should also hire a home inspector to evaluate the home and make sure it has no major issues that need to be addressed.

Step 6: Close on your loan

If all your paperwork checks out, you’ll be ready to close on your mortgage and take the keys to your new home. Make sure not to take out any new loans or apply for new credit cards between when you apply for the mortgage and closing, as this can interfere with your loan underwriting. Your loan officer and Realtor will give you instructions on what you’ll need to bring to the closing table. 

SHOULD YOU PAY OFF YOUR MORTGAGE OR INVEST THE MONEY?

Where to get a $200,000 mortgage

You have a number of options when it comes to taking out a $200,000 mortgage. Here are a few of the most common:
 

• Banks — Your local bank likely has loan officers on hand who can help guide you through the process of taking out a loan. This can be a convenient way to get in-person service. However, be sure to watch out for lender fees, and compare the rates you’re offered with other options.
• Credit unions — While banks are for-profit, credit unions are not-for-profit financial institutions owned by their members. They often offer lower rates than you’ll find at banks. But you’ll likely need to become a member to take out a mortgage, and qualifications for membership can vary.
• Online lenders — A number of online lenders can lend throughout the country. Without a brick-and-mortar presence, some online lenders can afford to offer lower rates and fees. But you’ll need to make sure you’re comfortable with the online application process and the lender’s customer service.

You can easily compare mortgage rates from multiple lenders without affecting your credit when you use Credible.